Leecraft

[Flashpoint]

Anyone have info or some history on Leecraft. I have one and it looks like a Mirage .I was told by several they were built by Lee Collins? Brad Collins father before Mirage boats. I also heard the bottom was a Stoker to begin with.

[Mark75H]

I think Leecraft is David Lee. Brad Collins' father is Louis Collins. :)

[Flashpoint]

I knew something didnt sound right but i guess you get the idea.
How about some Louis Collins and David Lee history. Now thats better.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Louis Collins in 1976 at the Kilos in Kaukauna, Wisconsin

[WharfRat]

anyone got a pic of the 15' Laser that Louis set the kilo record with back around that time ?????

[Miss BK]

Flashpoint,
Here's a quick history for you:

Louis Collins and Mike Cullen came up with an idea for a new ModVP design. But they didn't have a factory or equipment to build a plug, molds or hulls, so they went to their friend David Lee of Lee Craft, and hired him to do the work.

They did some testing of thier own theories using a Stoker, but when it came time to build the Mirage, they began with a wooden plug built by David Lee and one of his employees: a young Brad Collins.

They went into production and built about 15 of these early Mirages. But the enterprise was not financially feasable - especially when trying to divide the profits three ways.

The partnership folded and the molds remained at David Lee's Cullman Alabama plant. After gathering dust for many years, David Lee - even though he didn't own them - sold those molds (we assume in lieu of storage fees, but that's just a guess).

I heard that Eagle One purchased them, but I am not certain about that.


Later, Brad Collins started his own plant known as "Mirage Boats of Texas" with the help of renowned plug and hull designer Tom Drozd. The first hulls were 12 foot boats for Sport C, SST45 and Mod C, called "Tom Cat's". (I bought one and met the builder for the first time a year later - he sure was CUTE!) A year or so later they created a better performing 18 foot ModVP "River Racer", which is a completely different hull than the original 18 foot Mirages built out of the Lee plant.


Hope that helps!

David and Chad Lee are still good friends with the Collins family. If you ever want more details, I'm sure David could fill you in some.

[Miss BK]

David and Chad Lee are still busy building race boats:

This is the latest, called "Aero Slot" for both F1 and F2 (Champ and SST120)

This is Bill May in SST 120 class in his Lee built Aeroslot


http://www.aprsuperleague.com/profiles/pics/72904/F2%20%2371%20PC-100.jpg

[Miss BK]

Jason Campbell in his Lee Craft AeroSlot won the 2003 San Diego and the 2004 Bay City Champboat races.

http://www.champboatracing.com/galleries/photos/2004/08-san_diego/SD_Testing9.jpg

[WharfRat]

Val, dang it, I REALLY want pics of the Laser. I figure if anyone has one you do............. & you know why :p

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Flashpoint,
Here's a quick history for you:

Louis Collins and Mike Cullen came up with an idea for a new ModVP design. But they didn't have a factory or equipment to build a plug, molds or hulls, so they went to their friend David Lee of Lee Craft, and hired him to do the work.

They did some testing of thier own theories using a Stoker, but when it came time to build the Mirage, they began with a wooden plug built by David Lee and one of his employees: a young Brad Collins.

They went into production and built about 15 of these early Mirages. But the enterprise was not financially feasable - especially when trying to divide the profits three ways.

The partnership folded and the molds remained at David Lee's Cullman Alabama plant. After gathering dust for many years, David Lee - even though he didn't own them - sold those molds (we assume in lieu of storage fees, but that's just a guess).

I heard that Eagle One purchased them, but I am not certain about that.


Later, Brad Collins started his own plant known as "Mirage Boats of Texas" with the help of renowned plug and hull designer Tom Drozd. The first hulls were 12 foot boats for Sport C, SST45 and Mod C, called "Tom Cat's". (I bought one and met the builder for the first time a year later - he sure was CUTE!) A year or so later they created a better performing 18 foot ModVP "River Racer", which is a completely different hull than the original 18 foot Mirages built out of the Lee plant.


Hope that helps!

David and Chad Lee are still good friends with the Collins family. If you ever want more details, I'm sure David could fill you in some.
So Val, how long after you thought Brad was "cute" did you marry him?

I remember Bradis Tomcat factory as I bought one and picked it up at the factory then drove it back to Wiscinsin. Chuck Zolokoske won the SST45 nationals driving it for me at Kankakee in I think 1984. I sold the boat to OMC/Fred Miller & it went somewhere in South America.

[hydroc888]

Did you buy the boat fully rigged and where was there factory ? Must have been pretty close to be able to drive the boat back to Wisconson . Sorry , only kidding . Sounded good tho .

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Actually, Chuck Zolkoske who drove the boat rigged it. I actually had to be in the south on business so combined business & vacation to pick up the boat. It was real nice looking as I had Brad lay it up in burgundy with 3 different grays stripes. On the way home it rained, was pretty upset that my new boat got wet & dirty.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Does the Laser have a wing over the transom? Give me the boat number and I'll look through my contact sheets. I know I've got one of a V hull with a wing on it. I didn't take many pictures at the Kaukauna kilos until I got done with my run. When I picked my camera up Bob Hering was making his run. He started to get air and I hit the button. The motor drive was in slow motion. I forgot I had it set for only 1-1/2 frames per second instead of 4. Otherwise I could have run through a whole roll before Bob finished skipping across the water.

[WharfRat]

no wing that I know of, there's a few pics of it in the "show us your boat" thread under my name